Chrysanthemum plant named `Chagira`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar named `Chagira` is provided. The new cultivar was the result of a controlled breeding program. Attractive small light pink daisy blossoms having a yellow center are formed in profusion as a round ball which surrounds the plant. Flower production is carried out on a natural production cycle. The plant possesses strong stems, forms attractive leaves, and commonly assumes a height of approximately 25 to 30 cm. The blossom coloration contrasts nicely with the dark green foliage. The new cultivar is particularly well suited for use in the production of a decorative pot Chrysanthemum. No growth regulator is necessary to achieve the very short plant height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andhereinafter is referred to by the cultivar name `Chagira`.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program which hadas its objective the creation of a new Chrysanthemum cultivar that isintended primarily for pot mum production.

The breeding program which resulted in the production of the newcultivar of the present invention was carried out in a controlledenvironment during November 1986 at Nuaille, Trementines, France. Thefemale parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the `8327-2` cultivar(non-patented in the United States and never even offered for sale inFrance) having yellow flower, generally poor foliage, and a tall plantheight, and the male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the `8471-9`cultivar (non-patented in the United States and never even offered forsale in France) having a very short and bushy growth habit. Theparentage of the new cultivar can be summarized as follows:

    `8327-2`×`8471-9`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and many smallplantlets were obtained which were physically biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new cultivar.

It was found that the new cultivar of the present invention:

(a) exhibits in profusion attractive small pink daisy blossoms having ayellow center,

(b) is highly amenable to branching by pinching,

(c) forms attractive foliage,

(d) achieves a very short plant height, and

(e) is particularly well suited for pot mum production on a naturalproduction cycle.

The new cultivar is intended primarily as a decorative pot Chrysanthemumfor growing outdoors at temperatures above freezing. However, the newcultivar also can be grown indoors.

In the absence of debudding the new cultivar commonly formsapproximately 7 to 9 blossoms per stem. Also, the new cultivar can begrown as a disbud to form striking blooms. An increased number ofbranches readily can be induced by pinching. The pinching of a cuttingcommonly produces approximately 10 to 12 stems per cutting. No growthregulator is required to produce the very short plant height; however, agrowth regulator optionally can be utilized.

The new cultivar can be considered to be an October-flowering greenhousevariety with the natural flowering season commonly occurring in weeks 42to 43 of the year. The blossoms are long lasting and commonly can bemaintained on the plant for approximately two weeks.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings initially takenduring 1987, as performed in Nuaille, Trementines, France, in acontrolled environment has demonstrated that the characteristics of thenew cultivar as herein described are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual propagation.

`Chagira` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light, day length, contact with pesticides and/or subjection to growthretardant treatments.

The new `Chagira` cultivar is being marketed under the SUPRA trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph was prepared during March, 1996, and showsas nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in a colorillustration of this character, typical plants and plant parts of thenew cultivar of the present invention. The plants were 12 weeks of ageand were grown at Nuaille, Trementines, France, under standardgreenhouse conditions which approximate those commonly utilized for theproduction of decorative pot mums. The plants had been pinched once andhad not been disbudded. No growth regulator was utilized.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical stem;

FIG. 2 illustrates the top view of a typical leaf from the lower part ofthe stem;

FIG. 3 illustrates the under view of a typical leaf from the lower partof the stem;

FIG. 4 illustrates the top view of a typical leaf from the upper part ofthe stem;

FIG. 5 illustrates the under view of a typical leaf from the upper partof the stem;

FIG. 6 illustrates the side view of a pair of largely unopened buds;

FIG. 7 illustrates the side view of a pair of typical flowers in thecourse of opening;

FIG. 8 illustrates the top view of a pair of typical opened flowers;

FIG. 9 illustrates the under view of a pair of typical opened flowers;

FIG. 10 illustrates the side view of a pair of typical opened flowers;

FIG. 11 illustrates the top view of three typical outer-ray florets;

FIG. 12 illustrates an under view of three typical outer-ray florets;

FIG. 13 illustrates an array of typical disc florets; and

FIG. 14 illustrates a side of a typical inflorescence wherein theflowers are in various stages of opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described hereafter isthe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London,England. In some instances more common color terms are provided and areto be accorded their usual dictionary significance. The plants describedwere grown at Nuaille, Trementines, France, in 20 cm. pots, three plantsto a pot, and were rooted in late May and stopped in early July. Allprimary laterals were retained. The plants were grown outdoors untillate September and then in the greenhouse with a minimum temperature of15.5° C. These conditions approximate those commonly utilized for theproduction of decorative pot mums.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora,cv. `Chagira`.

Commercial.--Decorative pot mum.

Inflorescence

A. Capitulum:

Type.--Daisy-eyed.

Number of rows of involucral bracts.--Generally five or less.

Diameter across face.--Approximately 25 to 35 mm. on average when fullyexpanded.

Frequency.--Corymbiform.

Outside bud coloration.--Greyed-Purple Group 186B.

B. Corolla of ray and disc florets:

Receptacle.--Small and conical flat.

Disc florets.--Tubular, yellow, short to medium in overall length,numerous, massed, and generally clearly visible at all stages of flowerhead development.

General tonality.--Yellow towards the center.

Color of disc florets.--Before dehiscence, greenish-yellow, and atanther dehiscence, yellow towards the center.

Color ray florets.--Outer side: At maturity White Group 155D but whiterand brighter, and lightly tinged with Red-Purple Group 70A. Inner side:At maturity between Red-Purple Group 70A and Red-Purple Group 70Bbecoming slightly paler towards the tip.

Configuration ray florets.--The longitudinal axis of the majority of theray florets is reflected very weakly towards the tip, and the strengthof the curvature is variable. However, the longitudinal axis of the rayflorets of the outer rows generally is straight. The length of thecorolla tube of the ray florets is short. The cross-section of the rayflorets is convex, there is no keel, and the ray florets tend to bestrongly ribbed. The ray florets generally are thin but occasionally aresomewhat thicker, and their surfaces are textured. The tips of the rayflorets are rounded, and they sometimes are dentate. The ray florets areapproximately 1 cm. in length on average and approximately 0.7 cm. inwidth on average.

C. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Generally present with disc florets and absent in rayflorets.

Gynoecium.--Generally present with most disc florets and with most rayflorets.

Pollen.--Generally formed in only a slight quantity and golden-yellow incoloration.

Fragrance.--Typical of Chrysanthemum.

Plant

A. General appearance:

Height.--Very short, and approximately 25 to 30 cm. in height onaverage.

B. Foliage:

Color.--Green Group 137A.

Configuration.--Lobed (as illustrated).

Texture.--Fleshy.

Serration.--Fine to medium.

Length of lower lobe.--Medium to long, and occasionally only medium.

Shape of base of sinus.--Rounded.

Shape of base of leaf.--Rounded.

Claw in base sinus between lateral lobes.--Absent.

Margins of sinus between lateral lobes.--Converging, and occasionallydiverging.

Apex.--Mucronate.

Stems.--Thin, angular in cross section, with some brittleness, nearYellow-Green Group 144A (as illustrated) in coloration, and withsomewhat uniform anthocyanin coloration along the stem.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named`Chagira`, substantially as herein shown and described, which:(a)exhibits in profusion attractive small pink daisy blossoms having ayellow center, (b) is highly amenable to branching by pinching, (c)forms attractive foliage, (d) achieves a very short plant height, and(e) is particularly well suited for pot mum production on a naturalproduction cycle.